How Democrats can defend against Republicans’ soft-on-crime attacks
VoxDec 23, 2022
The Facts
During a debate on Monday, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and his independent challenger Evan McMullin, a former CIA officer, sparred over Lee’s alleged role in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and extend Donald Trump’s presidency. [McMullin was formally in the GOP and is endorsed by Democrats.]
Lee and McMullin agree on most issues, with the latter supporting limits on abortion, opposing Biden’s student-debt relief program, and blaming Biden for continued inflation. But when the moderator brought up claims by Trump and others that the 2020 election was rigged, McMullin and Lee traded barbs.
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Whether he’s buying what the House Jan. 6 committee is pandering, or he’s manipulating the facts for his benefit, McMullin has no right to slander Lee. Even non-partisan reports show Lee was only asking questions about the possibility of Trump remaining in office, not actively pursuing any schemes. This shows how dangerous Jan. 6 rhetoric can be.
Left narrative
The emails Lee sent to Meadows show how dedicated the senator was to the multi-step process the Trump admin. tried to execute in order to hang on to power. It’s important that the principled independent McMullin spell out for voters just how much of a willing participant in an attempted coup Lee was between the 2020 election and Jan. 6. This race is a referendum on democracy itself.
